Break-down mill



A. PATERSON Oct. 27, 1936.

BREAK-DOWN MILL 2 Shee'ts-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 8, 1933 33 w/ UH; a Z W w WINVENTOR alexarlfir felzsaa ATTORN EYS Patented Oct. 27, 1936 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE BREAK-DOWN MILL Alexander Paterson, Buffalo, N. Y.

Application August 8, 1933, Serial No. 684,181 12 Claims. (Cl. 80-55)This invention relates to an improved breakby to enable conditioning ofthe mill to meet down mill for use in sheet and tin plate rollingdifferent rolling requirements.

and more particularly the invention involves im- A still further objectis to provide a mill which provements in the mill disclosed and claimedin is convertible to accommodate different roll 6 my Patent No.1,804,111, granted May 5, 1931. combinations.

The mill covered by my said patent includes Embodiments of the inventionare illustrated one or more units which are characterized by in theaccompanying drawings, in which: opposed integral housings, each havingwindows Figure 1 is a view in elevation of a mill unit for a multiplearrangement of roll sets together in which features of the invention areincorpowith means intermediate the sets and successiverated.

lyco-operating with each of them for feeding and Figure 2 is a frontview of the mill part, in guiding the piece to be rolled. The piece iscaused section and part in elevation. to move continuously forwardthrough the suc- Figure 3 is a perspective view of a roll frame. cessiveroll passes, the means intermediate the Figure 4 is a view similar toFigure 1 of a modireducing passes engaging the piece before it fied formof mill unit. 15

leaves the pass behind and directing it to the Figure 4a is a sectionthrough one of the pass in front and remaining in engagement with wedgesby which the roll frame is secured in its it until it has entered therolls of the pass to housing, the said section being taken along linewhich it is directed. In this way a square or 4a4a of Figure 1,

2o true feed of the piece is assured as is also the Figure 5 is a viewsimilar to Figure 4 of a 2 automatic passage of the piece through theseries further modified form of mill unit. of rolls sets, the last setof rolls reducing the v Figure 6 is a perspective view of the roll framepiece to a predetermined cross-section. The employed in connection withthe embodiment mill has the advantage that the reduction of shown inFigure 5.

the piece is accomplished more rapidly than has The mill unit, asillustrated in Figure 1, in- 25 heretofore been possible, the closeproximity of eludes two sets of three-high rolls which are the varioussets of rolls of the reducing passes mounted in housings I0 arranged inopposed reassuring passage of the piece through the mill lation in theusual manner. Each housing is of at such a rate as to eliminate, to asubstantial integral constructionand is formed with a cendegree, heatlosses. The capacity of the mill is, trally located opening II. The setsof rolls are 30 therefore, high. The multiple Window housings similar toone another and each consists of an not only enable a closer arrangementof the sets upper roll l2, an intermediate roll l3 and a lower ofreducing rolls than has heretofore been possiroll I4. As shown, theupper roll 12 and the ble but they also have greater strength for theintermediate roll I3 are employed to roll th support of the rolls andfor taking up the stresses piece while the lower roll reinforces .theinter- 35 that may be developed. mediate roll E3. The rolls may bedriven in any In the various illustrated embodiments of the suitablemanner. The piece is directed from present invention the mill is shownas compristhe working pass of one set of rolls to the working a singleunit. It is to be understood, howing pass of the succeeding set of rollsby sheet 40 ever,that while a single unit may be adequate, feeding andguiding means arranged between the 40 (assuming the nature of the workpermits suitsets of rolls and consisting of a feed roll [5 and ablereduction in the number of passes thus proa weighting roll IS, the feedroll being driven in vided) for ordinary use with pieces commencing anysuitable manner. In its travel through the in size at the sheet barstage, two units will be passes of the unit the piece is engaged by thpreferred and in such case suitable feedin and feed and weighting rollsl5 and I6 respectively, 45 guiding means may bev provided intermediatejust before it is discharged from the first set of and in co-operationwith the units as disclosed working rolls and is fed forward until itenters in my said Patent No. 1,804,111. the second set of working rolls,the said feed and One object of the invention is to provide forweighting rolls maintaining engagement with th facility in removing andreplacing the rolls of piece until it is engaged by the second set of 50the mill without the necessity of disturbing the working rolls. wherebyto assure a square or housings 'thereof. true feed of the piece. Therolls i5 and it are A further object is a mill of the typegenerpreferably employed in connection with a guide ally described inwhich provision is made for actable or plate H which bridges the spacehecommodating rolls of various diameters, wheretween the passes of thetwo sets of rolls. 55

In accordance with the invention means is provided for facilitatingremoval and replacement of the rolls of the unit. To this end a frame I8is arranged in each of the openings i I. The frame is supported upon acentrally located rib is and overlies shoulders 20, the said rib andshoulders being located in substantially the same horizontal plane. Adivision bar 2! of the said frame co-operates with side bars 22 and 23there of to provide windows 24 and 25 in which the necks of the workingrolls l2 and I3 are fitted, the rib l9 dividing the lower part of theopening ll into supplemental windows 26 and 26a for the necks of thebacking rolls l4. Brasses 21 for the upper rolls and 28 and 28a for theintermediate rolls are carried by the frame l8 while brasses 29 for thelower rolls are carried directly by the housings. The division bars 2|of the frames l8 may, as illustrated, be formed with opposed openings 2mto accommodate the shafts of the feed and weighting rolls l5 and I5respectively. The said bars may also be formed with shoulders 2H) forthe support of the guide table or plate H, the latter being carried by abar I1a which is positioned in grooves 2 le formed in the saidshoulders. The top bar 30 of the frame is formed with openings 3|through which the adjusting screws l9 extend, the said screwsco-operating with conventional bearing blocks 32 which carry brasses 34for engagement with the necks of the rolls l2. The blocks 32 are mountedfor vertical adjustment in guideways 33 which are formed in the divisionand side bars of the'frame.

The frame I8 is removably secured in the opening H by elements 35(Figures 1 and 4a). The latter includes wedge-like shanks 36 whichextend between the side walls of the opening II and the side bars 22 and23 of the frame. Preferably the shanks 36 of the elements fit inrecesses Ilia WnlCh are formed in the side walls, the said recesseshaving inclined bottom walls lob to compensate for the taper of theshanks. The elements include laterally extending heads 37 and arecarried from the housings I0 by bolts 38 which pass through suitableopenings formed in said heads. Nuts 39 which are carried by said boltsare adjustable to force the wedge-like shanks of said elements into thespace between the frame and the housing, thereby to secure the framerigidly in the opening II.

It will be apparent that the frames l8 may be removed from the housingsby loosening the nuts 39 and withdrawing the elements 35, it beingunderstood that the adjusting screws l9 are first withdrawn from theopenings 3| in the top bars of the frames. Upon removal of one of theframes I 8 either or both of the working rolls l2 and i 3 may bewithdrawn axially through the opening ll without disturbing the housingsl0 and without necessitating the removal of the frame of the companionhousing. It is understood, of course, that the removal of the workingrolls may be necessary for a number of reasons, for example, it may bedesired to recondition the rolls or to replace them with new ones, itbeing understood that in the latter instance the new rolls may be of thesame or different diameters with respect to the original rolls.

The lower rolls l4 serve only to reinforce the intermediate or workingrolls l3. As the wear upon these rolls is slight, the necessity forchanging them will seldom arise. They may, however, be removed bylifting them and then withdrawing them axially through that part of theopening II from which the frame has been removed. In

this connection it is to be understood that in the removal of thevarious rolls either or both of the frames l8 may be removed. Theinvention also contemplates the use of a frame in only one of thehousings in the event that the characteristics of the rolls are suchthat they may be removed and replaced in the manner desired by theremoval of the frame. Preferably, however, there will be a frameemployed in connection with each of the housings.

The intermediate or working rolls l3 wear considerably faster thaneither of the upper or lower rolls. Means is provided, therefore,whereby these rolls may be removed from the housings without thenecessity of disturbing the housings or removing either of the frames48. To this end the brasses 28 are carried by blocks 40. The latter aresecured in any suitable manner in recesses 4011 which are formed in theside bars of the frames. When the blocks are.removed the recesses thusprovided increase the width of the windows 24 and 25 to such an extentthat the rolls when lifted and moved laterally with respect to theirnormal position can be withdrawn axially through the windows, it beingunderstood that in the removal of the rolls in this manner parts of theroll bodies pass through the said recesses. In this connection it willbe noted that the shanks of the elements 35 are located directly behindthe brasses of the various-rolls. Hence any lateral thrusts of the rollswill be transmitted through the brasses and elements directly to thehousings.

From the foregoing it will be noted that provision is made for removingand replacing the various rolls of the mill without the necessity ofdisturbing the housings. Such removal and replacement can be effectedconveniently and with facility. In the event that such replacement orremoval involves only the intermediate or lower working rolls I3 thiscan be done not only without disturbing the housings l0 but also withoutnecessitating the removal of either of the frames I8. It is to beunderstood that although the lower rolls H are referred to as backingrolls, the said rolls may, if desired, be availed of in connection withthe intermediate rolls to provide a reducing pass. It is to beunderstood further that the invention contemplates the use of aremovable frame in only one of the housings if this is desired, it beingapparent that the withdrawal of the various rolls in the mannerdescribed can be effected by removing a single frame. When a singleframe is employed the rolls of course will be withdrawn through theopening in the housing occupied by the frame.

Means is provided whereby the mill unit illustrated in Figure 1 may beconverted into a two high unit. A unit of this type is illustrated inFigure 4. It includes two sets of two-high rolls which are mounted inhousings 4| arranged in opposed relation. The said housings are similarto the housings illustrated in Figure 1 and each is formed with acentrally located opening 42. Each of the sets of rolls includes anupper working roll 43 and a lower working roll 44. A frame 45 which islocated in the opening 42 is formed with a division bar 46, the latterco-operating with the side bars 41 and 48 of the frame to providewindows 49 and 50. Brasses SI for the upper rolls are carried by theframes 45. The lower working rolls 44 are fitted in supplemental windows52 and 53 which comprise the lower part of the openings 42 and which areformed by ribs 54. The brasses 55 for the lower working rolls arecarried directly by the housof three-high rolls which ings.

. and 69 Elements 66 are adapted to secure the frame 45 in the openingI! as described in connection with the embodiment shown in Figure 1.Adjusting screws 61 pass through openings 58 formed in the top bar 69 ofthe frame and. co-operate with bearing blocks 60 to control the passprovided by the working rolls, the said hearing blocks carrying brasses6| which engage the necks of the upper rolls. The said blocks aremounted in suitable guideways 62 which are formed in the said frames andwhich are adapted to permit vertical movement of the blocks asdetermined by the adjusting screws 61. In this embodiment the bearingblocks 66 for the upper rolls, as distinguished from those shown inFigure 1, are elongated, the said blocks serving to adapt the housingsto two-high sets of rolls. It will be apparent, therefore, that by theuse of different frames and bearing blocks the same housings may beadapted to acconmiodate different roll combinations. It will be notedthat in this embodiment a sheet feed mechanism is not employed inconnection with the working rolls, it being within the contemplation ofthe invention that when circumstances permit the piece may be fed by thefirst set of rolls directly to the succeeding set of rolls, the piece inthis instance being engaged by the former until it enters the latter.

In the embodiment shown in Figure the mill which is illustrated isgenerally similar to the mill illustrated in Figure 1. It includes twosets are mounted in housings 63 arranged in opposed relation in theusual manner. Each housing is of integral construction and is formedwith a centrally located opening 64. The sets of rolls are similar toone another and each consists of an upper roll 66, an intermediate roll66 and a lower roll 61. As described in connection with Figure 1 theupper rolls 65 and the intermediate rolls 66 are employed to roll thepiece while the lower rolls 61 reinforce the intermediate rolls 66. Itis to be understood, of course, that the rolls 6'! are, if desired,available for cooperation with the rolls 66 to provide reducing passes.The windows 68 for the upper and intermediate rolls 65 and 66respectively are provided by a frame which is arranged in the opening64. The said frame includes upper and lower bars II and 12 respectivelyand a division bar 13. The lower part of the opening 64 is divided by arib 14 into supplemental windows and 16 for the lower rolls 61. Theframe 16 is supported upon the rib l4 and it is removably secured in theopening 64 by elements 11. The latter are similar to and function insubstantially the same manner as the elements 35 shown in Figure 1. Inthe present embodiment the elements co-operate with the ends of the barsII and I2.-

Brasses I8, 19 and 80 are employed in connection with each of the upperrolls 65, the brasses 16 being carried directly by the housings 63 whilethe brasses 19*are carried by the division bars 13. The brasses 80 arecarried by bearing blocks M which co-operate with the adjusting screws82 to control the degree of reduction, the said screws passing throughopenings I la formed in the top bars H of the frames. Brasses 83 and 84for the intermediate rolls 66 are carried by the housings and divisionbars respectively while brasses 15a for the lower rolls are carried bythe housings.- In this embodiment the brasses as are carried by blocks86. The latter are removably secured in any suitable manner inre- Fromthe foregoing it will be apparent that.

mill units constructed in accordance with the invention have theadvantage that the rolls may be removed, replaced or interchanged asoccasion may require without the necessity of disturbing the housings.Afurther advantage obtained is that the housings are adaptable toaccommodate different roll combinations, it being understood in thisconnection that the frames --which are employed for this purpose may beof various forms, those illustrated being by way of example only.

I claim as my invention:

1. A breakdown mill including an integral housing formed with apluraltiy of windows, a companion housing formed with an opening, aframe located in said opening, said frame having a central bar whichdivides said opening into a plurality of windows which register with thewindows of said first mentioned housing, a set of rolls fitted in eachpair of registering windows, and means carried by said central bar forfeeding a sheet metal section from one set of said rolls to a companionset, said frame being removable to enable removal of said rolls withoutdisturbing said housings.

2. A breakdown mill including an integral housing formed with aplurality of windows, a companion housing formed with an opening, a.frame arranged in said opening, said frame having a central bar whichdivides said opening into a plurality of windows which register with thewindows of said first mentioned housing, a set of rolls fitted in eachpair of registering windows, brasses for said rolls carried by saidcentral bar, means carried by said central bar for feeding a sheet metalsection from one set of rolls to a companion set, and means forremovably securing said frame in said opening, whereby to enable removalof said rolls without disturbing said housings.

3. .A breakdown mill including an integral housing formed with aplurality of windows, a companion housing formed with an opening, a

frame arranged in said opening, said frame havwithdrawal of one of. saidrolls axially through said window without disturbing said frame or isaid housings.

' 4. A breakdown mill including an integral housing formed with aplurality of windows, a companion housing formed with an opening, aframe arranged in said opening, said frame. including side bars and acentral bar, the latter dividing the frame into a plurality of" windowswhich register with the windows of said first mentioned housing, a setof rolls fitted in each pair of registering windows, means carried bysaid central bar for feeding a sheet metal section from one set of saidrolls to a companion set, and wedges co-operating with the said sidebars for removably securing said frame in said opening, whereby saidrolls can be removed without disturbing said housings.

5. A breakdown mill including an integral housing formed with aplurality of windows, a companion housing formed with an opening, aframe arranged in said opening, said frame including a top bar and acentral bar, the latter dividing said opening into a plurality ofwindows which register with the windows of said first mentioned housing,a set of rolls fitted in each pair of registering windows, means carriedby said central bar for feeding a sheet metal section from one set ofsaid rolls to a companion set, means for removably securing said framein said opening, whereby to enable removal of said sets of rolls withoutdisturbing said housings and adjusting screws carried by said housingsfor controlling the passes provided by said rolls, said top bar beingformed with openings through which said screws extend.

6. A breakdown mill including an integral housing formed with aplurality of windows, a companion housing formed with an opening, aframe arranged in said opening, said frame including top and bottom barsand a central connecting bar, the latter dividing said opening into aplurality of windows which register with the windows of said firstmentioned housing, rolls fitted in each pair of registering windows,means for removably securing said frame in said opening, whereby toenable removal of said rolls without disturbing said housings andco-operating pairs of brasses which engage opposite sides of the necksof said rolls, one of each pair of said brasses being carried by saidcentral bar and the other of said pair being carried by awall of saidhousing.

7. A breakdown mill including an integral housing formed with aplurality of windows, a companion housing formed with an opening, aframe arranged in said opening, said frame including top and bottom barsand a central connecting bar, the latter dividing said opening into aplurality of windows which register with the windows of said firstmentioned housing, rolls fitted in each pair of registering windows,said rolls being of a diameter greater than the width of said windows,means for removably securing said frame in said opening, whereby toenable removal of several of said rolls without disturbing said housingsand a member carried by one of said housings and which is removable toincrease the width of a window, whereby to enable withdrawal of one ofsaid rolls axially through said window without disturbing said frame orsaid housings.

8. A breakdown mill including a housing formed to provide a plurality ofwindows, a companion housing formed with an opening, a frame in saidopening which divides it into a plurality of windows which are locatedopposite the win dows of said first mentioned housing, a plurality ofpairs of rolls, each of said windows accommodating the necks of a pairof said rolls, means for removably securing said frame in said companionhousing, whereby it may be removed to permit removal of several of saidrolls without disturbing said housings and bearings which engage the ionhousing,

sides only of said roll necks, the windows provided by said frame beingunobstructed between said bearings, one of said bearings being removablysecured in position, whereby it may be removed to enable removal of oneof said rolls without the necessity of removing said frame.

9. A breakdown mill including a housing formed to provide a plurality ofwindows, a companion housing formed with an opening, a frame in saidopening which divides it into a plurality of windows which are locatedopposite the windows of said first mentioned housing, a plurality ofpairs of rolls, each of said windows accommodating the necks of a pairof said rolls, means for removably securing said frame in saidcompanwhereby it may be removed to permit removal of several of saidrolls without disturbing said housings and bearings carried by saidframe which engage the sides only of said roll necks, the windowsprovided by said frame being unobstructed between said bearings, one ofsaid bearings being removably secured in said frame, whereby it may beremoved to enable removal of one of said rolls without the necessity ofremoving said frame.

10. A breakdown mill including a housing formed to provide a pluralityof windows, a companion housing formed with an opening, a frame in saidopening, said frame including side bars and a central bar which dividesaid opening into a plurality of windows which are located opposite thewindows of said first mentioned housing, a plurality of pairs of rolls,each of said windows accommodating the necks of a pair of said rolls,means for removably securing said frame in said companion housing,whereby it may be removed to permit removal of several of saidrollswithout disturbing said housings and bearings carried by said bars whichengage the sides only of said roll necks, the windows provided by saidframe being unobstructed between said bearings, one of said bearingsbeing removably secured in said frame, whereby it may be removed toenable removal of one of said rolls without the necessity of removingsaid frame.

11. A breakdown mill including a housing formed to provide a pluralityof windows, a companion housing formed with an opening, a frame in saidopening, said frame including side bars and a central bar which dividesaid opening into a plurality of windows which are located opposite thewindows of said first mentioned housing, a plurality of pairs of rolls,each of said windows accommodating the necks of a pair of said rolls,means for removably securing said frame in said companion housing,whereby it may be removed to permit removal of several of said rollswithout disturbing said housings, bearings carried by said bars whichengage the sides only of said roll necks, the windows provided by saidframe being unobstructed between said bearings and means for removablysecuring one of said hearings in said frame, whereby it may be removedto enable removal of one of said rolls without the necessity of removingsaid frame, said means including a block which fits in a recess formedin one of said frame bars and which is removable to increase the widthof the window which accommodates the neck of the said roll.

12. A breakdown mill including a housing formed to provide a pluralityof windows, a companion housing formed with an opening, a frame in saidopening, said frame including side bars and a central bar which dividesaid opening into a plurality of windows which are located opposite thewindows of said first mentioned housing, a plurality of pairs of rolls,each of said windows accommodating the necks of a pair of said rolls,

means for removably securing said frame in said companion housing,whereby it may be removed to permit removal of several of said rollswithout disturbing said housings, bearings carried by said side barswhich engage the sides only of said roll necks, the windows provided bysaid 10 frame being unobstructed between said bearings and means forremovably securing one of said bearings to one of said side bars,whereby it may be removed to enable removal of one of said rolls withoutremoving said frame, said means including a block which fits in a recessformed in one of said side bars and which is removable to increase thewidth of the window which accommodates the neck of the said roll.

